They say the largest stockpile was destroyed in Kabul, with 13 tons of opium, nine tons of hashish, two tons of heroin and six tons of other narcotics burned.

In neighboring Pakistan, authorities in Karachi set fire to more than 20 tons of illegal narcotics seized by coast guards.

Drug traffickers often use Pakistan as a transit point for drugs destined mainly for lucrative markets in Europe. Pakistani authorities believe most of the drugs originate in Afghanistan, the world's largest producer of opium.